Peabody - John T. Oleks Jr., 83, of Peabody, passed away on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at Beverly Hospital. He was the beloved husband of the late Judith Caroline (Callahan) Oleks whom he missed so very dearly after her passing in 2014.

He was born in Salem on October 28, 1942 and was the cherished son of the late John T. Oleks Sr. and Gertrude (O'Brien) Oleks.

John was a graduate of Peabody High School and Merrimack College, and received his law degree from Suffolk University. He practiced law, but found his true calling as a teacher. The many years he spent teaching history, civics, economics, and his favorite subject, current events, greatly enriched the lives of the students he encountered over his years as a staff member at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, as well as his own. There are many kids in Peabody and beyond who know "There is no such thing as a free lunch."

While born at Salem Hospital, John was a life-long resident of Peabody, excepting a brief sojourn to Pennsylvania. He grew up on the baseball diamonds of South Peabody and Emerson Park, and while he played football and hockey in high school, he truly excelled as a golfer, and loved his time on the links of the North Shore with his rogue's gallery of companions.

John is survived by his two sons, Christopher Oleks and his wife Elizabeth of Stowe, VT and Daniel Oleks of Beverly, MA; his two grandchildren, Ella and Finnegan Oleks; and a loving brother and sister in law, as well as wonderful nieces, nephews, and cousins. He and Judith cherished an unbelievably wonderful and eclectic collection of friends who meant so much to them and their family over the years they all shared. For people who stayed in one place for so long, there were few dull moments, so long as they had each other, their family, and their friends. Whether a planned dinner party, an informal gathering by the pool, or a week at the lake with great friends in a dodgy house, it didn't take much to get the good times rolling. As the years have passed, many of those friends have as well, and they are greatly missed, as John will be by so many. He was unique; as they say, "They don't make 'em like that anymore."

In accordance with John's wishes his services will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John's memory to charities he supported during his many years teaching, and beyond: Oxfam America, which fights hunger throughout the world, or Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Information on how to donate to Oxfam can be found online at give.oxfamamerica.org, or sent directly to Oxfam America, 77 North Washington Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114. Dana Farber donation information is available at danafarber.jimmyfund.org. He'd be happy you did it.